Football 2013-2014

[thetime]

Both of these, especially as Utd won't let Chelsea have Rooney.There's a fair amount of stuff that suggests the Mata thing is just paper talk, because a few days ago there was stuff supposedly coming out of Utd about a £80M transfer fund, but that "they wouldn't change the way they buy only talented youngsters and not marquee signings". If that's really true then Mata wouldn't be on the radar, or would only be on the radar if there's big panic at OT.But for Mata, why? If he stays at Chelsea he's guaranteed to be on the plane to Brazil, while there's big risks to that if he goes to Utd and doesn't cause them to raise their game - and given how almost everyone thinks he's not the first type of player they're needing, that might be what happens.

[zahidf]

Both of these, especially as Utd won't let Chelsea have Rooney.

There's a fair amount of stuff that suggests the Mata thing is just paper talk, because a few days ago there was stuff supposedly coming out of Utd about a £80M transfer fund, but that "they wouldn't change the way they buy only talented youngsters and not marquee signings". If that's really true then Mata wouldn't be on the radar, or would only be on the radar if there's big panic at OT.

But for Mata, why? If he stays at Chelsea he's guaranteed to be on the plane to Brazil, while there's big risks to that if he goes to Utd and doesn't cause them to raise their game - and given how almost everyone thinks he's not the first type of player they're needing, that might be what happens.

Edited January 22, 2014 by zahidf

[thetime]

Chelsea like loaning out players to mid table teams they don't see as competitors. Loaning mata out to Man Utd may be the best option!

[eFestivals]

I agree with most what you are saying here, although why would sitting on the Chelsea bench be a guarantee of being in Brazil rather than actually playing for a united/arsenal/Rochdale?

Because Chelsea are going to finish near the top of the league, and a player like Mata will get some credit for that no matter how little he might have played. Moaniho is getting grief for not playing him; no one is suggesting that Mata isn't good enough to play for them.

I'd say it's a much greater risk for him to go to a (comparatively) poorly performing team, because if he doesn't succeed in perking them up his rep will suffer because of it.

[thetime]

Because Chelsea are going to finish near the top of the league, and a player like Mata will get some credit for that no matter how little he might have played. Moaniho is getting grief for not playing him; no one is suggesting that Mata isn't good enough to play for them.

I'd say it's a much greater risk for him to go to a (comparatively) poorly performing team, because if he doesn't succeed in perking them up his rep will suffer because of it.

[eFestivals]

Also, if it does go right, and his inclusion gets UTD to a top 4 place, he'll get a lot of credit, enhancing his reputation.

Absolutely right. It could go both ways.

But, supposedly (from paper talk, and a fairly easy presumption), his first concern is the WC. I can't see him missing out on that if he stays at Chelsea, no matter how little he might play between now and the end of the season because he has a great rep that's not really being damaged by not playing - it's Moaniho who is getting the criticism for not playing him.

I'd say there's a greater chance of not going to the WC via a transfer (to anywhere, not just Utd) than there is by staying put.

[eFestivals]

So to summarize you are saying mata will have more chance being at the world cup by not playing in a successful team?

yeah, pretty much.

He's unlikely to go if he's playing in a not-successful team, whether that's Utd or anywhere else.

His rep is not going to significantly fade in the next 4 months if he doesn't play much, while his rep will fade a fair bit if he's playing elsewhere and not making much impact.

He can only lose via a transfer in relation to the WC.

Edited January 22, 2014 by eFestivals

[zahidf]

You need to try harder.

[thetime]

If they do sell Mata to Utd, it will be because they don;t see them as competition...

[TheGayTent]

i really dislike City fans, because they're just a nasty lot,

[Bobs]

Conversely they've consistently been the best supporters I've come across in the last 25 years.

[thetime]

Of to united tonight, half time parade of Mata and Vidal please....

And a 2-0 win.

[TheGayTent]

We've always had trouble going to City, i should state that they aren't all like this mind, the fans either side of the away segregation regularly hurl missiles into our end. The stand out one was when we beat them with a 90th minute winner, and there was quite a big fuss because they were throwing coins into our crowd, and kicked off cause they got a little girl, who got a very nasty cut, and they laughed.

Never have trouble going many places, but City fans, especially since the money, have been very very classless.

[Bobs]

A Liverpool Manchester thing? We regularly drink with City before and after games. Never has a problem or heard of one. Always found them the most similar to my own in terms of knowledge, sense of humour, not getting above themselves etc.

Everton used to be a horrible place to visit. The old park end we used to be in as away fans was always a nightmare to get out of without coming a cropper and Goodison was the first place I ever saw football supporters and Stanley knives. That said, haven't seen any bother there in more than 15 years so things have changed in that regard.

[kaosmark2]

I'm assessing on form, performances and results. You're assessing by history.

Yes, we've all been caught out before by Utd, so I get why some are just so reluctant to write them off ... but just look at the facts!!! If they perform on average from now until the end of the season as they did last season they'll just about scrape top 4.

Why does anyone think those players can perform now as they did last season?

What are they doing to make you think they're going to do that? This is the question that you avoid addressing.

[thetime]

I think it probably is. But still doesn't make my comments wrong as a result. Always the case. In my genuine opinion, over recent seasons, i've enjoyed watching United's success because it's meant the shower over the park slowly go from 'Last English team to win the CL', 'Most Successful team' and 'Most League titles' taken off them, and it winds them up so much

But, obviously since Moyes has taken over, we can't stand the bloke, and obviously have turned to dislike, and laughs as a result. City and Everton were always similar in the fact that they were the second biggest club in a huge footie town, but now, it's not really the same, and i'm not bothered about them or Mancunians in general.

No offense to mancs!

[The Nal]

I still can't understand why Everton fans hate moyes so much.

Seems to be a strange one.

[TheGayTent]

I think it probably is. But still doesn't make my comments wrong as a result.

[thetime]

United have bid a reported 35m for mata.

Edited January 22, 2014 by thetime

[The Nal]

40m some are saying. Either way, yes please!

[thetime]

Euros?

[The Nal]

Euros?

[eFestivals]

Its like a wife just getting up and leaving you for a bloke with a much bigger cock.

One with temporary erectile disfunction issues granted.

[eFestivals]

United have bid a reported 35m for mata.

Looks like all the paper talk was right after all then, i which case the deal is as good as done, and there's only the haggling on the price to be done.

Sterling.

I don't think he'd cost you £40M.

[zahidf]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25849959

'United deny making an official offer, but an initial bid has been tabled through intermediaries acting on behalf of the Premier League champions.'

Has everyone checked that the third parties actually work for Man Utd this time?...